Receiver separator



1932- J. B. FOWLER RECEIVER SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 19, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet1 1NVENTOR JOSEPH 5- FEM/LE1? BY 8 AM W ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1932. FOWLER1,869,371

RECEIVER SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 19. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOJEPHB. FOWLER.

g 1 W ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1932. J. B. FOWLER RECEIVER SEPARATOR Filed Jan.19. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 2, 1 932 T W Di- A EL IJose-en ".e. rev/Len, on rirrnAniitr tI v PENNSYLVANIA, AssrGiI'oR- roshe t n CORPORATION, or rnrtsnnnrnrn, rnNNsYnvnnIA, CORPORATION .orPENN- sYLvAnIA ammmssmmwoa Application filed January 19, 1928. Serialno. 247,791. i

The present invention relates to apparatus for separating impuritiessuch aswater, oil and other undesirable constituents from steam, and tomeans for removing from such apparatus the separated fluids and solids."

The object of the present invention is to provide improvedapparatus forseparating undesirable li uids andsolids from steam and acterize myinvent-ion are pointed out with: particularity in the clalms annexedtoand forming a part of this specification For a better understandingofthe lnventlon, howi ever, and the advantages possessed by it ref erenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter 1nWlllCllI have illustrated and described preferred e;

bodiments of the invention.

Of the drawings: 1" Fig.1 is an elevation partly'in'section of apreferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectionon theline 22 vof Fig. 1

' Fig. an elevation illustrating a modified arrangement andconstruction. of the dramage system;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of another modified form ofdrainage system; i

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the steam trap shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of arrangement; and v Fig-7 is an elevationpartly in section 0 still another modified arrangement. I In thedrawing's and particularl'y'in Figs. land2, I have illustrated apreferred embodiment of my invention, in which 'steam froma boiler drumA passes through a conduit A to a steam senarator B, of the receiverseparator type, wherein water and other unanother modifieddesirable-liquids solids are spmta from the-steam anddrained to ahighpres sure trap, from which the separated material is automaticallydischarged. from time to time. It isfwell known in the art that it'is.

highly advantageous to separate water and solid particles from the steambefore it tan] be efficiently usedin steam engines 'and tur'f' bines.WVater and'solid material is carried over from the boiler by priming andfoaming in the steam drum and in some cases slugs of water are picked upbodily byth-e steam and passed into thesteam outletpipel later in thecylinder interferes considerably with the operation of a steam engineinthat lit washes ollrthe lubricating oil from the surfaces,'increasesthe friction and'wear be"-; tween the partsand reduces the efficiency-ofthe engine. Itis disadvantageous in steamturbines as the water particles"cutthe tur bine blades and the slugs of water ar'e liable to wreck theturbine. Scale forming matter,

water and otherimpuritiesin the steam are especially detrimental to thesuperheater tubes of the boiler. I w g uWater and other impurities arecarried over in the steam pipe either as a streamfof condensate flowingalong the bottom of the pipeor as particles suspended in the steam-. Inthe present construction apparatus is pro-.- vided for removing-theundesirable constituents either when in the form of'condensate, or whensuspendedl in the steam.

' In carryingout the object ofmy invention, I

I have provided a steam separator B, havinga cylindrical shell B and aninlet head org tion"B ,-to which the steam conduit A jisv connected. Thesteam separator 13 "com prises an inlet chamber *0, andan outlet chamberE' in series and in both 'of'which' means are provided for separatingand storingthe undesirable liquidsand solids carried over'by-thesteam. i

'Inthe'chamber C is mounted an approach I baffle C inclinedwithrespectto the steam inlet pipe'A. In'the constriiction'shown the baffle G isarranged at an 'angle'of 45 with? respect to the-shell 'B and inlet"p'i'peAf ThebafileC consists of substantially rectangularfplate Cconnected-at itsupperi tical center line of the shell a distance sufli-'and lower curvedends to the shell B and extending laterally on bothsides of the ver cient to intercept practically all of the steamentering the chamber C. Projecting from the front side of the bafileplate C are ribs.

ribs G for a purpose hereafter described.

As shown in Fig. 2; passages are left on both sides of the baflie C.

A circular partition plate C is vertically positioned in theseparatorwith'its periphery secured to the shell. The plate C? has acircular opening C at thecenter portion there of. A pipe C is connectedtothe plate surrounding theopening C to form a passage thereto. The pipeC projects into the chamber C to a point adjacent the rear side of thebaffle plate C ,'whereby the flow-path of substantially all of the steamin the chamber isv sharply reversed before its discharge to V thechamber E.

The chamber E receives steam through the V pipe 0 from the chamber C.The chamber is provided. with a main bafile D extending across the majorportion of the shell at a point adjacent the rear side of the partitionplate'D secured at its upper and lower ends tothe top and bottom of theshell, respectively. Integrally mounted on and projecting i from thefrontfa'ce of the battle plate are a series of parallel vertical ribs DThe ribs extend vertically down the major portion of the baffle to apoint below the lower end of the circular opening C. The ribs aredividedinto a number of pairs, each of which is symmetrically locatedwith respect to the vertical center line of the shell and so. con.structed that as the distance from the center line increases the fartherthe ribs. projectfrom the face of the bathe plate.

The outlet chamber E is also provided with a steam outlet pipe E, whichis vertical- I, 1y arranged in the chamber with its lower endsecuredinthe bottom of the shell B and its upper end opening to the chamber atthe rear of the baflle D. The upper open end or the pipe ispreferablyarranged in a horizontal plane. The lower pipe end is connected to asteam discharge pipe E leadingto a superheater or to apparatus in whichthe dry Steam'is utilized. A'manhole opening E andcover E -are' arrangedin the outer end of the separator shell to provide means of access' tothe separator for cleaning or repairs.

In the apparatus heretofore, described, steam carrying entrainedmoisture and solid materialpasses from the, boiler A'throu-gh theconduitA into theseparator. The steam flow is at high velocity and the heavierliquidand solid particles tend to maintain their and adhere to thebaffle structure. The

steam passes around the side edges ozt-the bafiie and out through thepassage G The particles adhering to the baffle structure are free toflow downwardly between the ribs as there is little, if any, steamvelocitybetween the ribs. The condensate flowing along the bottom of thepipe A also drops to the bottom of the separator and flows with'theseparated fluid andv solid particles aroundthe lower end of the baffle Cto a drain pipeF connected to the bottom ofthe chamber 0 at a pointbelow the middle portion of the outlet conduit C 7 V I p 7 The steampassing around the baffle C to the outlet conduit usually contains asmall quantity of water and solid particles that have escaped separationby the bafile C and which are carried with the steam through the conduitpipe G into the chamber E.

The flow of steam into the chamber E strikes the bafiie D and in thisportion of the separator substantially all of the water and solid downthe baffle to the bottom out the chamber E, where they are removed by adrain pipe 7 g F connected to thebottom of the chamber- G? The bafiie Dcomprises a vertical battle E flows around the side edges of the bafflestructure to the steam outlet pipe E. Any moisture separated from thesteam after it passes from the baflle D is removed through a drain pipeF connected to the bottom of the cham ,ber E at the side of the steamoutlet pipe E.

The'projecting ribs on each bathe plate provide a large surfacecontactwith the steam flow and subject the steam to a scrubbing action, whichincreases asthe'steam flows toward the side passages; assisting greatlyin the separation of the impurities. The drainage system for theseparator comprises the pipes F, F and F connected to a common receiverin the form of a highpressure steam trap H provided with anlautoma'ticdischarge having a central passage K therein and an annular chamber Kconnected at one side to a passage K in the bonnet leading toatmosphere. A communicating passage 'K connects the chamber H to thechamber K v 7 The pilot valve J comprises a cylindrical bodyhavin'g acone shaped extension J at The steam after contact with the bafile D"annular. p

at its upper end with a tapered section Mv and a cylindrical rod'M Asshown in Fig. 5, the tapered section M is arranged to close the lowerend of the passage K and the top.

of the rod M is arranged to contact with the lower end of the pilotvalve J .f Apipe N connects the upper end of the valve chamber H to thetop'of a motor valve chamber 0.

A piston. O is vertically movable' in the valve chamber 0 and arrangedto unseat a discharge valve P against the action of a spring P locatedin the valve body P The valve body is connected to the lower part of thetrap chamber by a nipple P With the steam trap arrangement (describedthe float L rises and falls with the level of the liquid in the trapchamber. As the level of the liquid rises the float moves to open thepassage K, close the passage K thus permitting the steam collecting inthe top of the trap chamber to act on "the piston O, unseat the valve Pand discharge'the contents of the trap chamber to the discharge pipe PAsthe level of the liquid in the trap chamber falls the float L moves toclose the passage K, open the passage K and permit any steam in thechamber H and pipe N to pass out the passage K to atmosphere. Viththe'drop in pressure above the piston O the valve P is automaticallyseated by the action of the liquid passing out and the spring P. Whilewell adapted to the use to which it is put, the specific form andconstruction of the trap H shown'forms no part of the present invention.I

. In theconstruction shown, the drain pipes F and F are sealed by theliquid in the trap chamber. This is necessary as the steam pressure inthe separator chamber E is less than the pressure in the chamber C andif the-pipes F and F were not sealed the liquid descending in thosepipes would be forced back into the separator by the higher pressure ofthe steam from the separator chamber C which has collected in the trapchamber. The sealing ofthe drain pipes provides a head'of water in thosepipes sufficient to overcome the difference in steam pressure in thecompartments. It is not-necessary that the pipe F be sealed but in somecases it may be advantageous to do so.- A pressure equalizing pipe Ffconnects the upper part of the trap chamber to the separator chamber Eto equalize the pressures therein.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the drainage system alsocomprises a common receiver Q, for all ofthe drain pipes. The receiverQ, is connected at its upper end In the main by apipe Q to a highpressure trap of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5j This arrangementof a common receiver and trap attains the same result of preventingrecircu- I.

lation of the liquid and solids separatedout from the stea As shown inFig. i, the commonreceiver may be omitted and-thev pipes F and Fprovided with checkvalves I thereof to prevent any. back flow of thesepa-' rated products. In this'construction all of t in the lower end qI the pipes are drained into; a high pressure trap. p I 1 In Fig. 6 Ihave illustrated a modified arrangement in. which the steam and waterreceiver separator B of the type shown in Fi 0's. 1 and 2 and connectedthereto by a steam very high and the present arrangement com bines thepurifier with the steam and water drum of the boiler, thereby reducingthe total cost of the apparatus. As shown in Fig.

7, the boiler drum S is extndedlongitudinal- 'ly and provided with afalse headers for the steam and water section of the drum. 7 The drumextension is provided with a steam separating and purifying apparatus ofthe type disclosed in Figs. 1 and2 and comprises the approach baflie C,the partition plate C and'pipe C connected thereto, and the main baffleD. Steam is passed into the separator section by a steam pipe S? locatedabove the water level in the drum and connected to'an opening inth'e'false header S; After passing through the purifying apparatus, thesteam passes out through the pipe E to the super heater or otherapparatus asmaybe desired.

Drainage pipes F, F and F for the separator chambers are provided asheretofore described in the separating system' and drain the moistureand other impurities inthe steam into a common receiver as shown inFigs. 1, 3 or 4 wherein the pipes are sealed.

My invention is characterized by the simplicityof the apparatus and'byits effectiveness and reliability in operation. With the apparatusillustrated I have attained practi cally perfect separation of themoisture and solid particles from the steam with substantially dry steampassing out of'the-steam out let pipe. The arrangement oflthe drainagepipes provides ahighly elfici ntdrainin of 6.

the separator and the sealing L'o'f the pipes for so drum A of-"a boilerhas mountedthereona disposal of the separated products. ,While inaccordance with the provisions of the statutes, 1 have illustrated anddescribed 7 the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be madein the form of the apparatus disclosed Without departing from the spiritof my invention as setforth in the appendedclaims andthat in'some'cas'escertain vfeatures of my invenj responding useof other features.

Having now. descr1bed my invention, \Vllilt 1'5 connecting saidchambers, abaille located tion may be used to advantage Without a core Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V or a v v 1.The combinationwith a steam separator having a steam inlet thereto andcomprising a plurality of chambers for a series flow of steamtherethrough, a passa 'e connecting said chambers, a baflle located ineach of said chambers, of a common receiver normally containinga body oiliquid, and means for separately draining said chambers in saidreceivercomprising a separate pipe connection from each chamber to saidreceiver, one of said connections being normally sealed in saidreceiver. I a

2. The combination with a steam separator connected at one end to asteam inlet pipe and comprising a plurality of chambers, anapproach'baflle located in one ofsaid chambers adjacent said steaminlet. pipe, a passage in another of said chambers, of means for sepiarately draining each of said chambers, said means comprising a steamtrap, a'connection between each of said chambers and said trap, andmeans for automatically discharging said trap When the liquid thereinreaches'a predetermined level. a

3. The combination ith a steam separator having a steam inlet theretoand comprising a plurality of connected chambers wherein liquidimpurities "are separated from the steam passing through, ofpipeconnections for separately draining the liquid impurities from eachchamber, and means associated with said pipe connections for preventingcirculation of the separated liquid in said separator chambers.

i. Thecombination With a steam separator having a steam inlet theretoand comprising inlet and outlet chambers, a passage connecting saidchambers for a series How of steam therethrough, and a .bafile locatedin eacn of said chambers, of means for separately drains ing saidchambers comprising common re- 'ceiver, a separate pipe connection fromeach chamber to said receiver, the pipe connection from said outletchamber having arliquid seal in said receiver.

. J5. Steam purifying apparatus comprising in combination, a separatorhaving an elongated shell including steam inlet and outlet chambersarranged in series, a baflle' in each of said'chambers arranged tointercept substantially all of thesteam passing through thecorresponding chamber,.a par tition extending transversely of said shelland separating said chambers, an elongated steam conduit extending fromsaid partition to a point adjacent the rear side of said inlet chamberbafiie and providing a series flow of steam through said chambers, astea m outlet pipe opening tosa-id outletchamber,external-pipesseparatelyconnected toeach of said chambers for the discharge ofthematerial separated from the steam by said baffles, and

a means assoeiated'with said pipes for prevent? ing in saidpartition toa point adjacent the rear side of said inlet chamber bafile and providing a' series flow of steam through said chambers, a steam outletpipe opening to said 7 outlet chamber above the bottom of said shell,external pipes separately connected to each of said'chambers for thedischarge of the mate.- rial separated from the steam by said bafiles,and means associated with saidpipes for preventing the return of saidmaterial to said chambers. V i' 7. Steam purifying apparatus comprisingin combination, a separator having an elongated shell including steaminletand outlet chambers arranged'for a series flow of steamtherethrough, a baffle plate in each of said chambers arranged tointercept sub'-' stantially. all of the steam' passingthrough thecorresponding chamber, verticaliribs on. said plates extendingtransversely to the steam flow, theprojection of said-ribs from saidplate increasing fromthe plate center to the side edges, a steam outletpipeopening to said outlet chamber, external pipesfseparately connectedto each of said chambers for the discharge ofthe material separated from'thesteam by said baiiies, and means associated with said pipes forpreventing the return of said material to said chambers.

Signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, this 13th day of January, A. D, 1928.

I a JOSEPH BFOWLER.

